The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review and comment a draft Warren Act Contract with the Cawelo Water District. The term of the negotiated draft contract is 16 years, through February 28, 2026. The Warren Act of 1911 authorized the United States to execute contracts for the conveyance and storage of non-Reclamation project water in federal facilities when excess capacity exists.

Under the proposal, a Warren Act contract would be executed to annually convey up to 20,000 acre-feet of previously banked non-Central Valley Project (CVP) water through the Friant-Kern Canal from Cawelo Water District (CWD). The CWD would deliver the non-CVP water to Kern County Water Agency, or some or all of its subcontractors, for exchange and ultimate delivery for municipal and industrial uses to Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Zone 7.

The contract is available online. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments must be received by close of business February 23, 2011, and should be sent to Rena Ballew, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, or may be faxed to 559-487-5397, or e-mailed to rballew@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the draft contract, please contact Ms. Ballew at 559-487-5504 (TTY 800-735-2929). A copy of the contract may also be viewed at Reclamation's Fresno office (see address above).

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR.